CHMM (IHMM) key terms

A federal law that governs how hazardous waste is generated, transported, stored, treated, and disposed of, establishing the cradle-to-grave system for managing hazardous waste in the United States.

A federal law, commonly called Superfund, that provides authority and funding to clean up uncontrolled hazardous substance releases and holds responsible parties liable for cleanup costs and natural resource damages.

A federal law requiring facilities to report hazardous chemical inventories and releases, supporting local emergency planning and giving the public access to information about chemicals in the community.

A federal law that regulates the manufacture, import, processing, and distribution of industrial chemicals, allowing EPA to require testing and restrict substances that pose unreasonable risks.

A federal law governing discharges of pollutants into surface waters, establishing permit programs such as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and requirements to prevent oil spills.

A federal law regulating emissions of air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources, including national ambient air quality standards, hazardous air pollutant rules, and operating permits for major sources.

An OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.120) covering hazardous waste operations and emergency response; it requires training, medical surveillance, and protective measures for workers exposed to hazardous substances.

A shipping document that accompanies hazardous waste from its generator through transport to a treatment, storage, and disposal facility, providing a written chain-of-custody record.

The principle that a hazardous waste generator remains responsible for the waste from the point of generation through final disposal, even after the waste leaves the site.

A hazardous waste generator that produces 1,000 kilograms or more per month, or more than 1 kilogram per month of acutely hazardous waste, triggering the most stringent RCRA requirements.

The threshold quantity of a hazardous substance released into the environment that triggers notification to federal, state, and local authorities under CERCLA and EPCRA.

RCRA requirements that prohibit the land disposal of hazardous waste unless it has been treated to meet specific concentration-based or technology-based standards.

An OSHA rule requiring chemical manufacturers and employers to classify hazards and communicate them through labels, safety data sheets, and worker training.

The dose of a substance that kills 50 percent of a test animal population under controlled conditions; it is a common measure of acute toxicity.

The maximum airborne concentration of a substance to which a worker may be exposed over a specified period, established and enforced by OSHA.

An atmospheric concentration that poses an immediate threat of severe health effects or death, or that could impair a person's ability to escape from a contaminated environment.

The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air near its surface; a key indicator of flammability.

The pressure exerted by a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid or solid at a given temperature; higher values indicate greater volatility and potential for airborne exposure.

The weight of a gas or vapor compared with an equal volume of air; values greater than one indicate the vapor tends to settle in low areas.

The lowest concentration of a flammable vapor or gas in air that will support combustion; below this concentration the mixture is too lean to burn.

The minimum temperature at which a material will ignite and sustain combustion in air without an external ignition source such as a spark or flame.

A logarithmic scale from 0 to 14 expressing the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution; values below 7 are acidic and values above 7 are basic.

The gradual buildup of a substance in an organism's tissues through uptake from food, water, or air, often resulting in concentrations higher than in the surrounding environment.

The increasing concentration of a persistent substance in organisms at successively higher levels of a food chain, often reaching the highest levels in top predators.

A measure of how strongly a chemical binds to organic matter in soil or sediment; higher values indicate greater sorption and lower mobility in groundwater.

The breakdown of a substance by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi into simpler compounds, which can be a key natural or engineered remediation process.

A ranked approach to reducing risk: eliminate the hazard, substitute a safer alternative, use engineering controls, apply administrative controls, and finally rely on personal protective equipment.

A barrier or structure, such as a dike or berm, designed to capture leaks or spills from primary containers and prevent releases to soil, groundwater, or storm drains.

The practice of separating incompatible hazardous wastes and materials into distinct containers or areas to prevent dangerous reactions, fires, or contamination during storage and transport.

A written document describing how a facility will respond to spills, fires, or other hazardous material incidents, including roles, notification procedures, and protective actions.

The process of removing or neutralizing hazardous substances from people, equipment, or surfaces to prevent the spread of contamination beyond the work area.

A permit-controlled procedure for entering spaces with limited entry and exit that are not designed for continuous occupancy and may contain hazardous atmospheres.

A systematic method of identifying hazards associated with each step of a task and defining controls before work begins.

The process of characterizing a waste stream by origin, composition, and hazardous properties so it can be properly classified, packaged, and accepted by a disposal facility.

A permitted facility that receives hazardous waste for treatment, storage, or disposal, operating under RCRA requirements and accepting only waste allowed by its permit.

A documented record tracking the possession, transfer, and handling of samples from collection through analysis, ensuring evidence integrity for regulatory or legal purposes.

A standardized document providing information about a chemical's hazards, safe handling, storage, and emergency measures, required under the Hazard Communication Standard.

A program of periodic health examinations and tests for workers exposed to hazardous substances, intended to detect early signs of work-related illness.

EPA-defined categories A through D that specify combinations of respiratory, skin, and eye protection based on the hazards present at a hazardous waste site.

The use of instruments and sampling methods to measure airborne contaminants and oxygen levels, helping to select protective equipment and determine safe work conditions.